Chesterfield

Chesterfield's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in health, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Chesterfield increased by 5.0%, from about 98,800 to 104,000.

The addition of about 4,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Chesterfield was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Chesterfield

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Chesterfield increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This industrial area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 12% of people in Chesterfield are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Chesterfield, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.6% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) households had only one person, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Chesterfield which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 37% to 32%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Chesterfield increased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Long hour working fell in Chesterfield, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the East Midlands.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 14% to 10%.

During this period, Chesterfield fell below five local authority areas, including Broxtowe and Oadby and Wigston, to become the East Midlands local authority area with the ninth-lowest percentage of long hours workers.

Long hour working in Chesterfield decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Chesterfield residents that were unemployed increased from 4.5% to 4.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of Chesterfield residents that were self-employed increased from 6.2% to 7.4%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

Chesterfield saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.6%) in Chesterfield said their health was bad or very bad, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage that perceived their health as good or very good increased from 62% to 76%.

Across the region, only Bolsover (from 14% to 8.6%) and Nottingham (from 11% to 6.5%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 9.4% to 5.7%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Chesterfield decreased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Chesterfield

The number of people in Chesterfield that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 13,000 in 2001 to about 28,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Chesterfield that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 77,000 in 2001 to just over 66,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 7,800 to just over 7,600 (from 7.9% to 7.4%).

About 700 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from about 400 in 2001 (0.7%).

The population without a religion in Chesterfield increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Chesterfield

The percentage of Chesterfield residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 8.2% to 7.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (5.0%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.1% in 2001. The percentage of Chesterfield residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 88% to 87%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 6.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Chesterfield at a faster rate than in North East Derbyshire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Chesterfield).

In Chesterfield, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.2% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby North East Derbyshire increased from 3.9% to 7.4%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Chesterfield fell from 26% to 23%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 66% to 63%.

Private renting in Chesterfield increased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chesterfield, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Chesterfield

The percentage of single people in Chesterfield increased from 26% to 32% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (47%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Chesterfield that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 28% in 2001 to 32% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 35%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Chesterfield

The number of people in Chesterfield from the White ethnic groups increased from about 97,000 in 2001 to about 100,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Chesterfield from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 780 in 2001 to just under 1,600 in 2011 (from 0.8% to 1.5%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 660 to about 1,100 (from 0.7% to 1.1%).

About 780 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 320 in 2001 (0.8%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Chesterfield decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Chesterfield residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.7% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Chesterfield remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Chesterfield by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Chesterfield with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.5% to 9.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Chesterfield without children increased from 63% to 64%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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